To All Diocesan Bishops and Parish Rectors Directly Under the President
of the Synod of Bishops in the United States.

The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
on January 22/February 4, 1985, HEARD

the oral report of Archbishop Anthony of San Francisco, that in
the United States of America there is the pious custom of marking
the civil holiday known as Thanksgiving Day with prayers of thanksgiving.
In several of our parishes a Supplicatory Service of Thanksgiving
is served on this day. This custom ought to be legitimized.

RESOLVED: In the Russian Orthodox churches within the United States
of America to establish the serving of supplicatory services of
thanksgiving, which are to replace petitions of thanksgiving during
the Reiterate Litany, if the Liturgy is celebrated on that day.

[Resolved also:] To send out an encyclical directive concerning
this to all the diocesan bishops and the rectors of those parishes
within the United States of America which are subject directly to
the President of the Synod.